Let me know your itinerary and timings and I'll see what RV-related things I can help out with...

Cheers

Martin in Oz
(sorry - not panel related )

Hey,

I am on my way to Sydney, Melbourne and points west if time permits. I am building an RV 8 and would love to hook up with some one down under who is doing the same or a Vans design.
If any one interested in meeting us-wife - please send info.
Thanks,
Ed Cleggedwclg@adelphia.net[/quote]

Sorry I don't have any more pictures. No, it is not hinged. Note that if you have a more-or-less standard depth radio tray located anywhere other than the extreme bottom of your panel, a bottom hinge would not allow the tray to clear the top of the panel flange to rotate forward.

The main panel overlaps the panel flange about 3/4 in on the bottom so I just drilled a #12 hole in assembly through the overlap. I have a short (approx 5 in.) piece of cord with a washer and knot at each end on each side to act as a stop/hanger. When you unscrew the panel you simple drop it down till it extends the cords to the stops. I just leave the cords in place, but you could take them out if you wanted. I also built a small loop of safety wire into the top of the roll bar to have something to attach another piece of cord to support the upper side of the panel when it is dropped/rotated.

I also built a hanger into the turtledeck so I would have something to support the loop of wire when the panel is in place. Otherwise it would hang down a little below the bottom of the panel. The loop is secured to this hanger by a tie wrap which must be snipped when you want to drop the panel; you could access this by (groan) laying on your back and working overhead. But I have a small access plate in the 866 bulkhead (on which my encoder is attached - easy to get at for the biannual adjustment) that allows access through the baggage compartment.

here is a pic of my updated panel - a very inexpensive and simple panel. Very clean and functional. This is the 3rd retro fit since purchasing the aircraft from the builder. It should be the last - for a while...

Here's my RV-8 panel. I'm a believer in the traditional Basic "T" layout that the OEM's have used for decades. No fancy EFIS or video game screens to watch. Just the basic information you need for VFR cross-country and sport plane flying. With the RVs wonderful field of view who wants to be looking at a screen anyway.

The gyros are electric, so I have no vacuum system. That way you can turn the juice off and do aerobatics without tumbling the gyros. The EI stack at right gives everything you need for engine management. I really like these. They are simple and reliable. The GPS/Com is Garmin 250XL. I wish it were a little higher on the panel for easier viewing but that's a minor complaint. So far I've been to Oshkosh, LOE, and Wichita, KS from Dallas. The only thing on my wish list is for a color moving map with weather overlay. Other than that I'll let others spend huge sums on the latest gadgets while I just fly.

OK, those are some beautiful panels. They are a work of art! But I know some of you have done just as great of a job on the other side of the panel (i.e. some nice wiring practices and pretty bundles). How about showing us some more of your art work? A behind the scenes if you will?

Of course, one thing I found out as I was building was that the closer I got to finishing, the less often I picked up the camera! Hence, I have very few pictures of anything between the 90% and "complete" phase. Here is a picture of the backside after the electrical and electronics were all wired and working. Pitot/static lines aren't plumbed, and the final lacing wasn't in place. All the extra wire is for service loops so I can pull the panel into my lap and disconnect everything.

And as a bonus, here is the backside of my electrical power distribution and control panel - again, only about 90% finished - didn't have the overvoltage circuits and a few other little things (like bus bar insulation) installed at the time. Wasn't ready for final close-out, so everyone can assume that any problems you see got fixed!

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